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c. 1980 – Sculptural Coffee Table in Flamed Walnut and Tempered Glass – France
€2,800
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Product description
It doesn’t just furnish a space — it defines it
If one piece alone could capture the hedonistic elegance of the French Riviera in the late 1970s, it might well be this one.
At the crossroads between the refined craft of Var-region naval joinery and the organic experiments of 1970s interior design, this sculptural coffee table likely began life as a unique prototype — or, at most, a micro-edition — conceived for the bespoke furnishing of a private Mediterranean villa or yacht.
Its provenance points to Toulon, a port city with deep artisanal roots, and its character conjures the vision of a sunlit deck in Saint-Tropez, a chilled glass of rosé resting on its surface. Equally at home in a California modernist villa or a contemporary gallery setting, it carries with it a rare harmony of craftsmanship, coastal spirit, and sculptural poise.
The magic begins with the material itself.
Its sculptural base is composed of two opposing scrolls, meticulously bent from 9-ply plywood and clad in a quarter-cut flamed walnut veneer, carefully hand-selected for its depth and rhythm. A semi-gloss polyurethane finish lends the wood a warm amber sheen — neither matte nor overly reflective, just enough to catch the light without freezing it.
Nothing feels rigid here: the curves breathe, extend, respond to one another — spiraling like twin waves captured mid-motion. Floating above them, a thick slab of extra-clear tempered glass (11.5 mm) seems to defy gravity, simply resting atop four original steel dowels with elegant restraint.
In a single, almost calligraphic gesture, this piece distills the very essence of Riviera design: luxury without ostentation, marine curves, and an airy sense of ease.
The base reveals its period character through discreet, telling details.
Aged solid wood glides at the bottom of each scroll bear the gentle wear of time. The cruciform Pozidriv screws — worn yet intact — hold four custom-machined, zinc-coated steel dowels in place, firmly pointing to a French artisanal origin (Italian workshops had already shifted to Torx systems by then).
Everything about this piece speaks to a handcrafted provenance and one-off execution: no maker’s mark, no serial number — just the subtle patina of a half-century spent near the Mediterranean light.
Its proportions — 35 cm high, 124 cm long, 65 cm deep — make it versatile in any setting.
The dialogue between wood and glass echoes the legacy of modernist design while anticipating the refined minimalism of the 1980s. Its sculptural presence and material balance subtly recall the work of Karl Springer, Baleri Italia, or even Maria Pergay — where structure becomes line, and furniture becomes statement.
A solitary piece, glimpsed too briefly along the shores of the 1970s, this table needed no famous signature to rise to the level of a collectible.
Its scroll silhouette — masterfully executed — has vanished from design catalogues, embodying at once the hand of the artisan, the boldness of an era, and the promise of an interior like no other.
Whether born of a confidential micro-series or a project that never saw mass production matters little in the end. What counts is the sensation of owning a piece no one else can claim.
Its curves — impossible to replicate without the original tooling — stage a fascinating dialogue between the warmth of aged wood and the crystalline lightness of tempered glass. In welcoming it into your space, you’re not merely adding a design reference; you’re claiming a fragment of history, imbued with that rare power to elevate the everyday into something singular and unforgettable — true luxury, because deeply personal.
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Technical Details
Dimensions (cm): 35 (H) x 124 (W) x 65 (D)
Origin & Date: Workshop in Nice or Toulon, circa 1976–1982 (full technical report available upon request)
Condition: Very good original condition. Period polyurethane varnish with subtle moiré reflections; minor veneer losses at one corner and a few discreet edge chips; glass top in very good condition with light surface wear consistent with age.
Condition: Very good original condition. Period polyurethane varnish with subtle moiré reflections; minor veneer losses at one corner and a few discreet edge chips; glass top in very good condition with light surface wear consistent with age.
Condition: Very good original condition. Period polyurethane varnish with subtle moiré reflections; minor veneer losses at one corner and a few discreet edge chips; glass top in very good condition with light surface wear consistent with age.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsBrown, TransparentMaterialWood, GlassNumber of items1Height35 cmWidth124 cmDepth65 cmSigns of usageDents, Scratches
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Saint-Martin-Lestra, FranceOn Whoppah since November 2024 • 3 sales